House cooler and heater



Dec. 1, 1942. UPTON 2,304,042

HOUSE COOLER AND HEATER Filed Sept. 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec 1, 1942. R. M. UPTON 2,304,042

HOUSE COOLER AND HEATER Filed Sept. 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOUSE COOLER AND HEATER Roy M. Upton, Miami, Fla. Application September 22, 1941, Serial No. 411,917

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an air heating and ventilating means.

An object of this invention is to provide a combined heating and ventilating structure which may bemounted in the ceiling or wall of a building and which, during the use of the device for heating purposes, is adapted to force airfrom the attic or other air space into the building, the device being so constructed that when it is used for cooling or ventilating purposes the air from the building or room is drawn from the building or room and into the attic or other air space.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind embodying a reversible electric fan motor and a heater which are adapted to be mounted in or above the ceiling, and also embodying a concentrating shield for causing the air to pass only through the heater, the shield being readily removable so that a large volume of air may be drawn from the room upon reversal of the fan motor, and the heater being de-energized when the fan motor is reversed in its operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a structure of this kind which will not take up any space in a room and which is designed for heating buildings having no other heating system, the structure being used in localities wherein the atmospheric temperature is normally such as not to require a heating system. This device may also be used to supplement existing heating or ventilating systems.

A further object of this invention is to provide a structure of this kind which may be used as a circulating means for heated air by forcing the heated air downwardly and drawing the unheated air from an upper air space such as an attic or other air space and providing screened inlets which communicate the attic or upper space with the air below the attic or upper air space so as to thereby re-circulate the air.

To the foregoing objects and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrange- .ment of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detail top plan partly broken away of a combined heating and ventilating structure constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing diagrammatically the electric circuit associated with thisinvention,

Figure 3 is a detail bottom plan of the device,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1. 7

Referring to the drawings the numeral l0 designates a square box-like duct or housing open at its upper and lower ends and which is adapted to be mounted in an opening formed in the ceiling H. The duct I0 is preferably in the upper portion of the building, and the space above the ceiling ll may be either an attic space or an air space between the ceiling and the roof of the building.

In order to provide a means whereby the space below the ceiling ll may be either heated by air being forced downwardly into this space, or whereby the hot air in the space below the ceiling may be drawn upwardly into the air space above the ceiling I I, I have provided a fan structure generally designated as l2. The fan structure l2 includes a reversible fan motor [3 provided with a shaft M on which a fan blade structure I5 is secured. 'The fan blade I5 is of such a configuration that when the motor [3 is operating to rotate the shaft l4 in one direction, air will be forced downwardly, and when the motor I3 is operating to reverse the rotation of the shaft M, the fan blade structure 15 will draw the air upwardly from the space below the ceiling H.

The motor I3 is supported from the duct or housing ID by means of a supporting structure generally designated as IS. The supporting structure l6 includes a substantially square frame H which is formed at the corners thereof with lugs [8 through which fastening devices l9 are adapted to engage for securing the frame I! on the upper edges of the housing ID. The frame I! includes a flat horizontally disposed plate 20 which is provided adjacent the marginal edge portions thereof with an upstanding flange or rib 2| and the plate 20 is formed with a circular opening 22, the marginal edges of which are which have their outer legs 25 secured to or formed integral with the frame 11 and extendingupwardly from the circular flange 25. The lower ends of the legs 25 may be extended horizontally outwardly as at 21 to form a reinforcing rib which terminates at its outer end at the upstanding flange structure 2 I.

The inner legs 25 of the inverted U-shapeci brackets or supporting members 25 are relatively shorter in length than the outer legs 26, and have secured thereto or cast integral therewith an annular plate 29. The plate 28 is disposed in a horizontal position and has the lower face thereof substantially coplanar with the upper edge of the circular rib 25 as shown in Figure 2. The plate 29 is formed with a central opening 50 through which the bearing 54 carried by the motor It for the shaft 14 projects. The motor I3 is secured to the upper side of the plate 29 by means of fastening devices 52 in the form of bolts or the like, and preferably a cushioning washer 55 is interposed between the upper side of the plate 25 and the adjacent end or lower side of the motor l5.

The motor i is a reversible electric motor and has a pair of conductors 54 and 55 connected therewith which are extended through a flexible casing or sheath 55. The motor i5 also has connected therewith a second pair of conductors 31 and 58 whereby the motor 15 may be reversed in its rotation when electric current is connected with the latter conductors. The conductors 34 and 55 are connected to terminals 39 and 45 respectively of a reversing switch structure 41. The switch structure 4i is a conventional reversing switch being shown diagrammatically, and the conductors 51 and 55 are connected to a second pair of terminals 42 and 45 respectively. A double bladed movable circuit closing member 44 is disposed between the pairs of terminals, and is connected by means of conductors '45 and 45 to a source of electric current supply.

A screen or perforate shield 41 is disposed below the fan blades [5 and is interposed between a square molding structure 45 which is secured by fastening devices 45 to the underside of the housing l0. An electric heater 5| is positioned on the upper side of the screen or perforate member 48 being secured thereupon by means of a plurality of bolts 52. A washer 53 is interposed between the upper end or head of the bolt 52 and the upper side of the heating coil or member 5|, and a second washer 54 is interposed between the nut 55 and the lower side of the screen or perforate member 41.

The coil or heating member 5i has connected therewith a pair of conductors 55 and 51 which are connected with the conductors 34 and 55. In this manner, when the switch blade structure 4| is moved to a position connecting the terminals 59 and 45 with the source of electric current for rotating the motor l5 in a direction to force the air downwardly, the electric circuit including the conductors 55 and 51 will also be closed to the heating coil or member 5 l.

A lower shield structure generally designated as 58 is disposed below the screen 41. and is secured to the lower side of the molding 45 by means of wing nuts 55 mounted on bolts 50*. The shield 55 is a removable shield and comprises a plate 59 which is formed with a downwardly offset outer marginal flange portion com nected to the plate 59 by means of a downwardly extending flange 5|. The shield 55 also includes a centrally disposed body 52. The outer marginal portions of the-central body 52 are connected with the plate 55 by means of webbed sections 55. The central body 52 is formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart openings 64 which are of sector shape, and which are positioned beneath the heating coil or member 5|. The openings 54 in the central body 52 form webs or supporting arms 55 which are disposed between the sector shape openings 54. The plate or body 52 may also be formed with an inner reinforcing rib 55 and an outer reinforcing rib 51 positioned concentric to the rib 55, and the ribs 56 and 51 define the inner and outer marginal portions of the sector shape openings 54.

In the use and operation of this combined heat ing and ventilating structure, the frame structure i1 is adapted to be secured to the upper edges of the housing I5 which is in communication with either the attic or an air space above the ceiling ii. It will be understood that the attic or air space above the ceiling I I may be in communication with the outside atmosphere through suitable openings or windows. The motor 15 is connected by means of the conductors 54, 55, 51, and 35 to the reversing switch 4|, and the conductors 55 and 51 are connected with the conductors 54 and 55.

When it is desired to heat the space below the ceiling H, the switch blades 44 are moved to the left as viewed in Figure 2 so as to close the electric circuit to the conductors 54 and 55 and also close the electric circuit to the conductors 55 and 51 in order to energize the heating member 5i. When the fan blades 15 are rotating to force the air downwardly, the downwardly moving air must pass through the convolutions of the heating coil or member 5|, and the heated air will then pass downwardly through the screen 41 directly below the heating coil 5| and through the sector shaped openings 54.

In the event it is desired to reverse the operation of the motor l5 and draw air out of the air space below the ceiling II, the shield 55 may be removed so as to expose the entire surface of the screen 41. The switch blades 44 may then be moved to close the electric circuit to the conductors 51 and 55. This will effect a reversed rotation of the motor l5 so that the fan blades l5 will pull the air upwardly into the air space above the ceiling H. When the fan blades 15 are drawing air upwardly through the screen 41 and past the heating member 5|, it is desirable that one or more windows in the room below the ceiling ll be opened to the desired degree in order to permit air from the outside to enter' the air space below the ceiling H. when the motor I5 is rotating in a direction to draw the air upwardly from the air space below the ceiling I i. the heating coil 5! will be de-energized, in view of the fact that the conductors 55 and 51 are only connected to that side of the motor II which. eti'ects rotation of the fan blades l5 in a direction to force the air downwardly.

This heating and ventilating structure has been designed particularly for use in homes where it is not necessary to provide a conventional heating system due to thevery short period of cold weather, although if desired, this heating and .ventilating structure may be used as a suppleerated at a relatively low cost so that it may be readily installed in small dwellings which are not provided with any heating systems.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined heating and cooling device comprising a housing open at each end for mounting in an opening in a ceiling, a substantially square frame having a central circular opening disposed on the upper end of said housing, radially arranged inverted U-shaped supporting means carried by said frame, a centrally apertured plate fixed to the inner legs of said supporting means, a fan motor seated on said plate and having the shaft thereof extending through said opening, fan blades fixed to said shaft below said plate, a screen fixed to the lower end of said housing, an electric heater carried by said screen, an electric circuit connected with said motor for operating said motor to rotate said blades in one direction, a heater circuit connected with said first circuit for energizing said heater when said motor is operating in said one direction, a reversing circuit connected to said motor for operating motor to rotate said blades in a reverse direction, a reversing switch interposed in said first and latter circuits, and a shield disposed beneath said screen, said shield having sectorshaped openings aligning vertically with said heater whereby only air passing said heater may flow through said openings.

2. A combined heating and cooling device comprising a housing open at each end for mounting in an opening in a ceiling, a substantially square frame having a central circular opening disposed on the upper end of said housing, radially arranged invertedU-shaped supporting means carried by said frame, a centrally apertured plate fixed to the inner legs of said supporting means, a fan motor seated on said plate and having the shaft thereof extending through said opening, fan blades fixed to said shaft below said plate, a screen fixed to the lower end of said housing, an annular electric heater carried by said screen, an electric circuit connected with said motor for operating said motor to rotate said blades in one direction, a heater circuit connected with said first circuit for energizing said heater when said motor is operating in said one direction, a reversing circuit connected to said motor for operating motor to rotate said blades in a reverse direction, a reversing switch interposed in said first and latter circuits, and a shield disposed beneath said screen, said shield having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart sectorshaped openings having a width substantially equal to the width of said heater between the inner and outer diameters thereof.

3. In combination, a combined heater and cooler comprising a housing, a reversible electric fan in said housing, an electric circuit for operating said fan in one direction, a heater carried by said housing for heating air forced in one direction by said fan, a heater circuit connected to said first circuit, a reversing circuit connected to said fan, and a reversing switch interposed in said first and latter circuits, said heater circuit being de-energized when said fan is operating in a reverse direction.

ROY M. UPTON. 

